Longtime Co-op members Jeannine and Chris Taylor left the Co-op members’ barbecue $147 richer – a sum that represents a 6.7 cent-per-litre rebate.

“It hasn’t rained on us yet since I began hosting the barbecue more than a decade ago,” says Co-op manager Richard Kerton. “I have a record to maintain, so I did a little dance in the back to call out the sun. I guess it worked.”

As an owner in the co-operative, each Co-op member receives an annual “patronage allocation,” comprised of both cash and equity in the company. This year’s cheques, ranging from $60 to $7,000, represent a 6.3 cent-per-litre refund on regular gasoline, and even more on premium and diesel purchases.

“We plan to spend our dividend cheque this year on our vacation,” said longtime Co-op member Chris Taylor, who pocketed $147 at the barbecue. “The best thing about being a member, other than the cheque of course, is that it’s an all-Canadian business with a long history of community support and outreach to the arts in the Comox Valley.”

“Getting money back is a bonus, but I also appreciate the community involvement of my Co-op,” echoed five-year member Lorrain Barner, who left the barbecue a cool $148 richer. “The Co-op has consistent reliable service and is a true community participant. Getting a free cup of coffee with every fill is a nice touch too.”

While many of Comox District Co-op’s 4,500-plus members joined simply because it makes economic sense to get paid for their everyday shopping like gas and snacks, Kerton says more and more members are joining for the intangible benefits.

“Being a Co-op member is being part of an organization that’s community oriented and that belongs to the community,” he explained. “It’s the people who are the heart and soul of the Co-op.”

Kerton thanked all the members who attended the barbecue, as well as Quality Foods for donating the food and the local 4H Club for providing enthusiastic volunteers.

Co-op members who haven’t yet received their dividend cheque can pick it up at the Co-op bulk plant at 4889 Island Highway until May 25, after which it will mailed out.

For information on becoming a member, visit www.comoxvalleycoop.ca or stop by one of the Co-op’s two Comox Valley locations.

A volunteer from a local 4H club serves hot dogs at last year’s Co-op members’ barbecue. Comox District Co-op has more than $400,000 to give away at this year’s barbecue on May 12.

This Mother’s Day weekend, some Comox Valley moms will get cards, some will get flowers and some will get their share of more than $400,000.

That’s how much money Comox District Co-op has to give away in dividend cheques at its annual member’s barbecue on Saturday, May 12. Individual cheques range from about $60 all the way up to $7,000 – and they’re not just for moms!

“Our tagline is ‘moving ahead by giving back,’” says Richard Kerton, manager of Comox District Co-op. “The giving back part happens at the barbecue. Our members see the value of membership in the form of cash in their pockets and they realize they can earn even more by choosing Co-op for the things they’re going to buy anyway, like gas, coffee and snacks. That’s the moving ahead part!”

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Co-op manager Richard Kerton (front left) presents a $500 cheque to Cathy Dupuis, Station Leader of the Comox Valley Marine Rescue Society. Also pictured (L to R) are CVMRS president Jim Brass, Co-op director Grant Machin and CVMRS Boating Safety Officer Heather Mossauer.

The Comox Valley Marine Rescue Society (CVMRS), based out of Comox Marina, is the auxiliary unit for Station 60 (Comox) of the Canadian Coast Guard. On Friday, Station Leader Cathy Dupuis accepted the Co-op’s cheque for $500 on behalf of the organization.

“I want to say a big thank-you to the Co-op for this gift,” said Dupuis. “Donations from the public are what keep us going. They’re all we have to cover the costs of operating the Bruce Brown II, buying safety gear, and training our volunteers.” (The Bruce Brown II is the Station’s 31-foot fast response rescue vessel.)

Last year, about 35 CVMRS volunteers responded to 49 distress calls in the waters surrounding the Comox Valley.

When not keeping our waterways safe, these same dedicated individuals are out in the community promoting boating safety through presentations, courses and participation in local events like Comox Nautical Days and the Snow to Surf Adventure Relay.

“They’re saving lives, saving boats and helping all of us make safer choices while we enjoy the opportunities the ocean offers,” says Richard Kerton, manager of Comox District Co-op. “Giving back to the community is at the heart of what we do. Being a co-op, we not only serve the community; we’re owned by the community. And as the community grows stronger, so do we.”

Marine Rescue volunteers, just like land-based emergency and search-and-rescue personnel, go through extensive training that is continually renewed and updated, to the tune of more than 280 hours per year. While on call, they carry a 24-hour pager and have to be within 15 minutes of the rescue station at all times.

Volunteer duties can include anything from a midnight search-and-rescue mission on rough seas to an information session teaching kids the fundamentals of water safety. In all cases, says Dupuis, the volunteers know they’re saving lives.”

“That’s always their motivation,” she says. “It’s what drives us. It’s great to know that our work is supported by organizations like the Co-op.”

“The ocean is such a big part of what makes the Comox Valley the special place it is,” says Kerton. “Whether we’re boaters or not, we all know someone who is. I think we can all rest easier knowing there’s such a great organization, and so many dedicated volunteers, dedicated to keeping our waters safe.”

The CVMRS has been active since 1978 and relies on the generosity of the community to fund its efforts. To learn more, to volunteer or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.unit60comox.ca.

Owners Mark and Danielle Duncan will unveil a new look and a new menu at Union Street Grill & Grotto April 8.

The Grotto, one of downtown Courtenay’s favourite casual eateries, has shared space with the Union Street Grill on Fifth Street for seven years, yet has always maintained a discreet distance in terms of what really counts – the menu. That’s about to change.

After a transformative week behind closed doors April 1 to 7, the Grotto will reopen with a new look, a new menu and a brand new relationship with the Union Street Grill

“We realized it was time to bring the Grotto and the Grill closer together,” says chef Mark Duncan, who owns both restaurants with his wife Danielle.

“We’d been hearing from our customers that they want to be able choose between the more classic, full-service restaurant experience of Union Street Grill and the more casual, lounge-type milieu of the Grotto without having to choose one menu or the other,” explains Danielle. “So we’re going to have one menu for both venues. It will have everything that’s been on offer at the Grill, plus a few of the most popular items from the Grotto.”

That means, for instance, that Union Street Grill patrons will finally be able to order the breakfast burrito, a longtime Grotto favourite featuring scrambled eggs, Chorizo sausage, bell peppers, onions, mozzarella and cajun spices all rolled up in a tortilla with salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

The shared menu will also feature brand new items like Balsamic BBQ Pork Ribs served over butternut yam mash with artisan greens.

Complementing the new menu at the Grotto will be a trendy new look that emphasizes comfort and style. Think sleek leather bucket chairs & comfortable leather benches – the kind you never want to get up from.  Not that you have to, says Danielle.

“People come to the Grotto for a more social experience,” she explains. “They want to linger over a beer or a glass of wine, or maybe two, and just hang out. The new look is definitely going to mesh with that.”

What won’t change at the Grotto is its fine tradition of special events like live music, family nights, tapas nights and more. Nor will the “grab and go” convenience of the service counter be lost amidst the sophisticated new look.

A grand re-opening party will be held May 12 at the Grotto, featuring lots of give-aways, all-day specials on food and drinks, free beer and wine tastings until 5pm and live music from 7pm to 9pm. Jet FM will also be on-site from 11am to 4pm.

Just call it a restaurant engagement party!

The Union Street Grill and Grotto is located at 477 Fifth Street.  For more information, including hours of service, call 250-897-0081 or visit www.unionstreetgrill.ca.

Kyle Sheehan (L), of the Courtenay Fire Department Extinguishers, faces off with Conner McNamee of the Ives Burger Sharks at Courtenay Applebee’s. The restaurant is helping raise funds for the players’ Atom House Tournament this weekend.

Applebee’s is hosting a “Forks for Fundraising” event March 23 to 25 in support of the Atom House Tournament being hosted by seven Comox Valley teams those same days. Sally Sheehan, a tournament organizer, says she hopes the event will raise a significant portion of the approximately $8,000 needed to host the tournament.

“We’re hoping all 12 teams will make it to Applebee’s at some point over the weekend,” says Sheehan, whose son Kyle plays for the Courtenay Fire Department Extinguishers. “I think it’s great that Applebee’s is supporting minor hockey players. I’ve seen them doing things like this throughout the community and it’s great to see.”

The way Forks for Fundraising works is simple: members of a non-profit (in this case the hockey teams) distribute flyers promoting the event. Each time an Applebee’s guest presents the flyer on the appropriate day (or days), Applebee’s donates 15 per cent of the bill to the group.

“It’s a super easy way for any organization, be it a sports team, school group, church group or any other non-profit, to raise funds without a lot of work required on their part,” says Linda Thomas, who heads community relations for Courtenay Applebee’s.

“It’s important to us to support the people who choose to dine at Applebee’s and to support the community in whatever way we can,” she adds. “A lot of it stems from the fact that our owners and all of our staff live right here in the Valley – we’re not some big city corporation, we actually care about what happens here, because it’s our community too.”

Tournament organizers expect about 90 players to descend on the Comox Valley from out of town this weekend, plus at least one parent per player and any siblings who form part of the entourage. That’s in addition to more than 100 local players who could celebrate their on-ice accomplishments at Applebee’s and contribute to the tournament’s success.

“It feels really great to be able to help out,” says Thomas. “Parents are going to be looking for a place to take their hockey players to eat anyway, so we’re making it easy for them. They can come to Applebee’s, enjoy a great selection of fresh food and also help out the tournament.”

Any non-profit that would like to arrange a Forks for Fundraising event, or even a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Applebee’s, is encouraged to contact Linda Thomas directly at 250.650.4258 or linda@islandapple.com.

Click here to visit BC Applebee’s on Facebook.

Comox District Co-op president David page hands out cheques at last year's members BBQ.

Members of the Co-op are paid a “patronage allocation” every year based on their purchases over the past year. At last night’s annual general meeting, the Co-op’s seven-member board announced that, for only the second time in recent memory, this year’s allocation will be paid out entirely in cash.

Historically, the Co-op has paid a portion of the allocation, which this year equals five per cent of purchases, in equity.

“We’re very pleased to be paying it all in cash this year,” says Co-op manager Richard Kerton. “Our members have supported us, so we’re giving back to them – that’s the way it works. Despite price wars this past year, we were able to meet the price and our members came in and supported us. Because of them, the Co-op achieved record sales this year.”

Read full article . . .

As featured in the Campbell River Mirror

You never know where you’re going to find love. Case in point, Martin Jurek, the soft-spoken father of two who runs Campbell River Hearing Clinic with his wife Jana, likes to tell the story of “a mail-order bride gone wrong.” It’s the story of how he and Jana met.

Martin’s improbable love story began in 1987 with a casual remark he made as a teenager to his grandfather, who was visiting from Martin’s native Czechoslovakia.

“My brother Lucas and I didn’t have girlfriends, so as my grandfather was leaving I said, ‘Hey Grandpa, find us a couple of girls!’ I said it as a joke, but he took it literally. A month later I received a letter with a couple of pictures. It was Jana and her sister.”

After two years of casual correspondence, Lucas visited the girls in the newly formed Czech Republic. Liking what he saw, he convinced Martin to send them some money for plane tickets to Canada. Although their developing relationships had been nothing more than friendly, there had been a distinct “pairing” of Martin with Jana’s sister and of Lucas with Jana. But that all changed within a few days of the girls’ arrival.

“After a couple of days, we knew it wasn’t going to go as planned,” says Martin. “Jana and I became really good friends and started hanging out together, which was a bit awkward because my brother liked Jana and Jana’s sister liked me. Jana was just this cute 16-year with a spark that really drew me to her; she really let you know her opinion!”

Martin and Jana Jurek, owners of Campbell River Hearing Clinic, are living proof that love can bloom from the unlikeliest of sources.

When the girls returned to Europe, Martin and Jana exchanged occasional letters for about a year as friends. Then Martin finally crossed the Atlantic for a return visit, ostensibly to visit family but really, he says, to find out if there really was something between him and Jana.

“I went to her grandparents’ place the night I arrived, and the moment I saw her I knew the spark was still there,” he says. “So we went for a walk into the hills and I asked her to marry me. It was a pretty spontaneous thing!

“I had to ask her right away,” he says, “because I only had three weeks there and wanted to spend it all as boyfriend/girlfriend. She was my first girlfriend and the first girl I kissed or even held hands with. But I knew she was the one.”

So it was that on that December evening in 1991, Martin and Jana got engaged and, moments later, shared their first kiss. The two were officially married in Canada six months later.

Against all odds, Martin and Jana took a relationship that really didn’t span more than a few weeks together and stretched it into 20 years of marriage, raising two children along the way.

“When I visited her in Czech 20 years ago I wanted to spend every minute with her, and I still do today,” says Martin. “She still has that spark that made me fall in love with her; I think I fall more deeply in love with her every day.

“This is my public expression of my love for her, and my commitment to many more years with my wife, business partner and best friend.”

Chad Huff, owner of Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill & Bar in Courtenay, shows off the FourSquare app, which he uses to engage with and reward his guests.

Launched in 2009, FourSquare (www.foursquare.com) uses geo-location functionality to allow users to “check in” via their mobile device at any location with a FourSquare profile. By connecting with other users, they can see where their friends have been, what recommendations or tips they’ve left and even what specials nearby businesses are offering.

“We’ve been using FourSquare for about eight months now as part of our broader social media presence,” says Chad Huff, owner of Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill & Bar in Courtenay. “We have regular guests who use it every time they come in. It’s still pretty new so there aren’t a lot of people on it, but those who are can find some really special deals.”

At Applebee’s, for example, any FourSquare user that checks in at the restaurant receives a free spinach and artichoke dip appetizer. The person with the most check-ins at any given time, known on FourSquare as the mayor, also gets 15 per cent off his or her entire bill.

“I see lots of potential for FourSquare in the Comox Valley,” says Sean Kerrigan, a local web designer and social media consultant who runs EcoPeak Web Strategy & Design. “Mobile browsing is overtaking desktop browsing, and people are getting used to the idea of using their mobile devices to enhance their real-world experiences. Even small business can leverage technology like FourSquare to reach out to their customers, but they should ideally be there before their customers start looking for them.”

FourSquare boasts more than 15 million users, who have checked in more than 1.5 billion times. Millions of new check-ins are made every day at more than 600,000 businesses worldwide.

The way Applebee’s is using the site to engage with guests, says Kerrigan, is a good model for other local businesses.

“That’s just one way businesses can create a fun, competitive spirit – by giving away something to the mayor,” he says. “It’s a great way to create a community around your business. And ultimately, that’s what social media is all about – community.”

“We take great pride in being a part of the community, both offline and now online with FourSquare and our other social media tools,” echoes Huff, who grew up on the Island and lives in Courtenay with his wife Julie. “Our business is providing fresh, healthful and tasty meals, but our passion is engaging with and creating memorable experiences for our guests.”

To join FourSquare, simply download the free FourSquare app for your iPhone, Blackberry or Android device, or visit www.foursquare.com.  Then head down to 2910 Kilpatrick Ave. to check in at Applebee’s!

Finding room for fitness in a busy lifestyle can be a challenge. I know – I have two kids under five, run two businesses and have to coordinate my schedule with my wife, who also works and strives to stay active.

While I’m certainly no expert on time management, my wife and I have learned a thing or two about making time for fitness. It’s all about prioritizing.

I’ve never seen the mathematical equation that proves it, but anyone with young children knows the number of hours in a day is inversely proportional to the number of kids you have.  If American Idol, Mad Men and (shudder) Jersey Shore top your to-do list, you’ll probably never find time to stay in shape. Sorry Snooki.

Once we decided fitness was a priority, we shopped around to find classes and/or activities that fit holes in our schedules and made sure we found room for them in our already stretched budget. That meant dining out less often and cutting back on our cable package and muffin consumption – OK, my muffin consumption.

Even though we’re now busier than ever, the stress relief we get from regular exercise gives us much more patience to deal with everything else life throws at us. We each get three to four workouts a week, hers generally in the morning and mine generally at night, and we’ve never felt better. Sometimes I even sneak away from work for an afternoon surf when conditions are right. Priorities, right?

To learn more about the challenge, visit www.bodynetix.ca.